Author: Maurie Backman, The Motley Fool

Planning to leave the workforce this year? Make sure you’re ready by answering a few questions that will play a big role in your retirement.

Though many adults in their late teens through mid-40s are saving consistently, the amounts they’re saving could cause them to come up short in retirement.

The money you’re used to getting back from the IRS might, in fact, become money you owe the IRS instead.

In short, they’re speculative, unregulated and hard to trade.

Hint: It’s something you should be doing already.